Thursday, September 1, 2011
Visit my new website!!!
Just finished my new website showing off my awesome design skills. haha. Still learning coding, so I'm pretty proud of what I was able to do. Gotta add all the bells and whistles... but as of now, design and functionality are finished!
And welcome to J.O. Creative Intuition... aka Janelle Otsuki's creative intuition. The name might be a mouth full, but its exactly what I wanted to convey. Not only do I like the meaning of both those words, but I like the meaning of them together. It also explains my talent and my most valuable asset. My creative eye combined with my ability to infer what a client wants with minimal direction.
Ok enough about me... go check it out!!
Introducing Flare Surfing!
Talk about a game changer!! Probably the coolest thing I have seen in a long time....
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Drinking & Driving
After traveling the world you start to realize that there are laws in which the United States seems to be the only country to enforce. Namely laws involving booze and cars.
Law #1: You must be 21 years of age to drink alcohol
This is probably the first law that comes to everyone's mind. In the U.S. you have to be 21 before you can legally drink. You're an adult at 18, you can adopt at 18, you can enter the army at 18, you can be sent to prison at 18, you can get married at 18.... but drink? Nope. All other countries I have traveled to either do not have an age restriction on drinking or don't enforce it. One big plus of that... you don't have to carry your ID with you everywhere, cause bars don't check.
Law #2: Establishments can't serve alcohol after 2am
This isn't really that big of a deal, UNTIL you start traveling and realize how much it sucks to get kicked out of the bar at 1:30-2:00am when you still want to party.
Law #3: Traffic Lights
Run a red light in the states and you'll find yourself with a couple hundred dollar ticket... but in other countries the traffic lights are merely suggestions. If it is yellow you "should" slow down, if it is red you "should" stop... or rather if you go through it there is a possibility you will get hit by oncoming traffic, and if that happens it will be your fault.
Law #4: Speed Limits
Most countries at least have the signs along the roads with a speed limit, but I have never been to another country where the speed limits are enforced. Guess they aren't in as much debt as we are and their governments aren't starved for the violation fines.
Law #5: Driving licenses
All I gotta say is in Thailand I saw what had to be 11 and 12 year old driving motorbikes. Pretty sure that means there aren't age restrictions that are enforced for driving.
Law #6: Seat belts
Yeah its pretty much useless for foreign car companies to even make cars with seat belts cause no one ever wears them.
Law #7: Drinking in public
Anywhere else in the world you can walk along the street with a beer in hand, you can sit in a park while enjoying a cocktail, you can drink wherever your heart desires. Not so in the states.
Law #8: Having a open container of alcohol in the car
Passengers cheers! Cause you can drink all you want on the way to the bar, party or concert. No one will stop you! Unless your in the states of course.
Law#9: Talking on the phone while driving
You can do whatever you want while driving... if you crash it is your own damn fault.
Law #10: Drinking and Driving
No DUI's abroad... except occasionally in Europe, but you have to be pretty smashed. This is one law that I actually support in the states. Cause its not only your life you put in danger but everyone else on the road as well.
Law #1: You must be 21 years of age to drink alcohol
This is probably the first law that comes to everyone's mind. In the U.S. you have to be 21 before you can legally drink. You're an adult at 18, you can adopt at 18, you can enter the army at 18, you can be sent to prison at 18, you can get married at 18.... but drink? Nope. All other countries I have traveled to either do not have an age restriction on drinking or don't enforce it. One big plus of that... you don't have to carry your ID with you everywhere, cause bars don't check.
Law #2: Establishments can't serve alcohol after 2am
This isn't really that big of a deal, UNTIL you start traveling and realize how much it sucks to get kicked out of the bar at 1:30-2:00am when you still want to party.
Law #3: Traffic Lights
Run a red light in the states and you'll find yourself with a couple hundred dollar ticket... but in other countries the traffic lights are merely suggestions. If it is yellow you "should" slow down, if it is red you "should" stop... or rather if you go through it there is a possibility you will get hit by oncoming traffic, and if that happens it will be your fault.
Law #4: Speed Limits
Most countries at least have the signs along the roads with a speed limit, but I have never been to another country where the speed limits are enforced. Guess they aren't in as much debt as we are and their governments aren't starved for the violation fines.
Law #5: Driving licenses
All I gotta say is in Thailand I saw what had to be 11 and 12 year old driving motorbikes. Pretty sure that means there aren't age restrictions that are enforced for driving.
Law #6: Seat belts
Yeah its pretty much useless for foreign car companies to even make cars with seat belts cause no one ever wears them.
Law #7: Drinking in public
Anywhere else in the world you can walk along the street with a beer in hand, you can sit in a park while enjoying a cocktail, you can drink wherever your heart desires. Not so in the states.
Law #8: Having a open container of alcohol in the car
Passengers cheers! Cause you can drink all you want on the way to the bar, party or concert. No one will stop you! Unless your in the states of course.
Law#9: Talking on the phone while driving
You can do whatever you want while driving... if you crash it is your own damn fault.
Law #10: Drinking and Driving
No DUI's abroad... except occasionally in Europe, but you have to be pretty smashed. This is one law that I actually support in the states. Cause its not only your life you put in danger but everyone else on the road as well.
Monday, August 15, 2011
10 quotes from 10 Things I Hate About You
I don't know what it was like in other high schools, but at mine there wasn't any other movie that was quoted as much as 10 Things I Hate About You. Funny, cause this movie wasn't anything truly spectacular. It's definitely a good movie, and pretty funny at times. But when was the last time you saw it? or when was the last time it was played on tv? This movie has virtually been forgotten in the sea of romantic comedy's that have been released since. But one thing it did have was a good script. Several "one-liners" that teens found hilarious and repeated with ease. Hence here is a list of my top ten favorite quotes from 10 Things I Hate About You (in no particular order):
- "Virgin alert... your favorite"
- "I know you can be overwhelmed, and you can be underwhelmed... but can you ever just be whelmed?"
"I think you can in Europe" - "You suck"
"You s-UCK" - "I'm down, I got the 411 and you are not going to some dance and getting jiggy with some guy, I don't care how dope his ride is....... my momma didn't raise no foo"
- "Where did you come from, planet loser?"
"As oppose to planet look-at-me-look-at-me" - "Am I that transparent? I want you. I need you. Ohh baby ohh baby."
- "Kat... Cat... grrrooowwllll"
- "There is a difference between like and love. Because I like my sketchers but I love my Prada backpack."
"But I love my sketchers"
"That's because you don't have a Prada backpack"
"Ooooohhhh" - "Remove head from sphincter then drive!"
- "I happen to like being adored, thank you!"
Friday, August 12, 2011
Damsel in Distress Syndrome
In our beloved movies and books there seems to be a reoccurring theme of the damsel in distress that has outlived any era or culture. This has been around for ages, but its funny that it is still as popular in our current culture where women are fighting for independence and to be treated equally. Yet again and again, we see this theme in the most popular of books and movies.
The new vampire craze is exhibit one. No matter what vampire book, show or movie... there is always the damsel in distress as our heroine. The human girl who falls in love with a vampire. Twilight, Trueblood, The Vampire Diaries... all the same. Yet I was intrigued by all series.
My new favorite series is the Hunger Games trilogy. Katniss is the heroine of this book, and by no way is she weak or helpless. Yet for me, the most engaging part of the series is the relationship between her and Peeta. Peeta is the guy who is so in love and devoted to her, his role in the series is her protector. The guy who's only thought is to protect Katniss... who is always in danger.
Even me, who I believe to be pretty independent and a fairly strong woman, finds myself longing to have this guy in my life. A guy who without thinking would do anything to protect you. Who puts you and your safety as their number one priority. (swoooooonnn) ahhhhh. If only.
Always wanting your cake and eating it too. Can you please treat us the same as men, but also think of us as needing protection? Can you give us our independence but also always take care of us? My God, how needy and hypocritical are we? hahaha.
The new vampire craze is exhibit one. No matter what vampire book, show or movie... there is always the damsel in distress as our heroine. The human girl who falls in love with a vampire. Twilight, Trueblood, The Vampire Diaries... all the same. Yet I was intrigued by all series.
My new favorite series is the Hunger Games trilogy. Katniss is the heroine of this book, and by no way is she weak or helpless. Yet for me, the most engaging part of the series is the relationship between her and Peeta. Peeta is the guy who is so in love and devoted to her, his role in the series is her protector. The guy who's only thought is to protect Katniss... who is always in danger.
Even me, who I believe to be pretty independent and a fairly strong woman, finds myself longing to have this guy in my life. A guy who without thinking would do anything to protect you. Who puts you and your safety as their number one priority. (swoooooonnn) ahhhhh. If only.
Always wanting your cake and eating it too. Can you please treat us the same as men, but also think of us as needing protection? Can you give us our independence but also always take care of us? My God, how needy and hypocritical are we? hahaha.
Backpacking in Northern Thailand
CHIANG MAI
Northern Thailand is just beautiful, in a different way than southern Thailand. Its all jungle. Lush, beautiful, eerie jungle. Chiang Mai is like the central hub of the north. There are tons of stuff to see and outdoor adventures to experience.
One of the main things to do is visit Doi Suthep, a famous temple on top of a mountain. You can take a taxi to the bottom of the steps and hike to the top. It was a little misty and foggy the day I went which made for a very mystical setting.
Northern Thailand is just beautiful, in a different way than southern Thailand. Its all jungle. Lush, beautiful, eerie jungle. Chiang Mai is like the central hub of the north. There are tons of stuff to see and outdoor adventures to experience.
One of the main things to do is visit Doi Suthep, a famous temple on top of a mountain. You can take a taxi to the bottom of the steps and hike to the top. It was a little misty and foggy the day I went which made for a very mystical setting.
There are also a ton of temples around Chiang Mai, especially in Old Town that you can walk to. The one below is the most visited temple in the area and was awesome to see. The architectural design of these temples are simple beautiful!
Another popular activity to do is see the Elephants. There are several companies with day trips to the elephant training facilities and after some research I found a great one with Chiang Dao tours. It started off with a visit to the Long Neck Karen tribe in the area where the women wear these copper wire necklaces that elongate your neck. And elongate there necks they did! Crazy to see and a little creepy.
Next we went to visit the elephant training center. Definitely my favorite part of the day. It is so amazing how smart these animals are! First you get to see the elephants up close and feed them. Then you watch them bathe with their trainers in the river (very cool!) and then on to the show. The trainers demonstrate how the elephants pull logs in the forest and stack them. They also performed a variety of tricks from bowing to putting hats on their trainers heads to finally, and my favorite, PAINTING! The elephant actually painted a picture.. it was crazy!! The trainers handed the elephants the paint brushes and they painted a picture of a tree. It was utterly shocking! And might I say, the elephant was a pretty fine artist :)
And now for the 90 minute elephant ride! Something I have always wanted to do, and it didn't disappoint. We rode through the jungle, over streams, under the green canopy and climbing over rocks. It was an incredible experience.
Lastly after a wonderful lunch at the foot of a beautiful mountain, we went bamboo rafting down a river. It was pretty peaceful most of the ride... we just got to enjoy the ride and take in the scenery. There were the occasional rapids and it ended with a section that definitely got my heart rate up and.. not gonna lie... was a little frightened the raft was going to fall apart.
All in all it was a great day! We got to do and see several highlights that Chiang Mai has to offer. I would definitely recommend this day trip to anyone who visits the area.
Chiang Mai also has the best place to buy souvenirs in the country... the Night Bazaar. I spent two night strolling through the Night Bazaar and still didn't see all of it. Hundreds.... even thousands of merchants come here to sell their goods. For a backpacker it is a shopping haven. Filled with hand crafts, parachute pants, and little gadgets, it is the perfect place to pick up your token from Thailand!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)